Clearly Kosciusko

Leslee Hill & Brian Hodorek – Two entrepreneur stories, and a community of support

In Episode 51 we hear stories from two local entrepreneurs about how they got started, and how they arrived where they are today. Brian Hodorek of Ignite Orthopedics and Leslee Hill of the WEOC Women's Business Center chat with us about all things entrepreneurship, and how the K-County community and region supports entrepreneurs at every stage of business.

 

SHOW NOTES

Season 4

Episode #3 of the “Entrepreneurship Series”

• [2:35] Meet Brian Hodorek, President & CEO and Co-Founder of Ignite Orthopedics and Leslee Hill, Director of the WEOC Women’s Business Center, as part of the Northeast Indiana Innovation Collective (NIIC)
• [3:15] Learning from entrepreneurs in our own community
• [3:45] Who are Brian & Leslee?
• [5:50] What’s The NIIC?
• [8:00] Brian’s journey to Ignite Ortho
• [10:20] If I’m interested in entrepreneurship, where do I begin?
• [16:30] Why mentorship is crucial
• [22:50] Lessons learned during the entrepreneurial journey
• [26:30] “Expect the rollercoaster”
• [28:50] What makes Kosciusko County special
• [31:15] What “Clearly Kosciusko” means to Leslee and Brian

 

Additional Resources:

Indiana Small Business Development Center (ISBDC)

SCORE

OrthoWorx

Village at Winona

Ryan Srogi - Life in aviation, and identifying a problem to solve in entrepreneurship

Co-hosts Ryan and Jody chat with Ryan Srogi, U.S. Navy Commander, pilot, and founder of aviation service app SimpleSortie

 

Episode Show Notes

• [1:55] Meet Ryan Srogi, U.S. Navy Commander and founder of small business SimpleSortie
• [2:45] From Michigan to the Hoosier State
• [4:00] Life in aviation as a corporate pilot
• [7:55] SimpleSortie – A unique service app utilizing technology to curate the best possible connections in private aviation
• [12:45] Behind the scenes of SimpleSortie
• [16:55] Ryan’s experience and inspiration for solving a problem
• [24:30] One of the greatest things about Kosciusko County
• [29:30] Opportunities as tech continues to evolve
• [31:40] What “Clearly Kosciusko” means to Ryan

Additional Resources:

Peakey Enterprise – Software development & consulting services

KEDCO Entrepreneurship Initiative

NEXT Studios and GemViz – Supporting startups, and building an enduring entrepreneurial ecosystem

KEDCO CEO Alan Tio chats with NEXT Studios and local medtech startup, GemViz about the Kosciusko MedTech Accelerator Studio, and how we're intentionally supporting startups and existing companies to grow and strengthen our local entrepreneurial community.

 

Episode 49 Show Notes

• [0:30] Meet John McDonald and Tom Kilcoyne from NEXT Studios and local medical technology (medtech) startup founders Jody Claypool and Mike Cusick of GemViz
• [1:30] What is NEXT Studios, and why are startups critical to our economy?
• [6:45] Meet GemViz, a Warsaw, Indiana-based medtech development company providing surgical digital technology solutions
• [10:25] The orthopedic industry––where we are now, and the possibilities ahead
• [16:35] Investing in medical technology – creating more opportunities here
• [21:15] What is the MedTech Accelerator Studio?
• [26:30] Takeaways from GemViz about the accelerator program
• [33:00] A community intentionally supporting startups and entrepreneurs

Scott Clay – Deep roots, and an invitation for young professionals to experience K-County

Scott has deep family roots in the community, and a passion this place he chooses to call home. He shares his take on personal and professional opportunities in K-County, while encouraging other young professionals to find their interest, and plugged in!

 

Episode Show Notes

• [1:45] Meet Scott Clay, entrepreneur and marketing manager with NAPA Auto Parts
• [6:20] How Scott chooses to stay connected in K-County
• [6:30] A top facility for sports events – The CCAC
• [13:30] The first “pick your own” groceries supermarket in the county
• [16:50] How might someone get involved in local politics?
• [19:25] Encouraging young professionals to get involved
• [28:50] What are young leaders seeking in the community?
• [32:25] What does “Clearly Kosciusko” mean to Scott?
• [33:10] Something cool to add to the community

 

Additional Resources:

City-County Athletic Complex (CCAC)

Young Adult Professionals (YAP)

Ryan Pannell – A unique medical equipment sales company in the Orthopedic Capital of the World®

You've probably watched shows about flipping houses and picking antiques...but you likely haven't heard about doing the same with medical equipment. In this episode we chat with Ryan Pannell, president of Didage, a unique Warsaw-based sales company offering new and refurbished used medical equipment.

Episode Show Notes

• [2:25] Meet Ryan Pannell, president of Didage, a new and refurbished medical equipment sales company in Warsaw, Indiana
• [2:55] What’s unique about Didage – “flipping & picking” medical equipment
• [11:00] A solid value proposition
• [14:00] Bootstrapping – How the company got its start
• [15:20] Ryan’s journey through the company
• [21:35] Didage is hiring! Learn more
• [26:00] Favorite things to do and see in the area
• [32:00] What does “Clearly Kosciusko” mean to Ryan?

Additional Resources

Lake City Skiers

Hidden Lake

Are you new to the community or considering moving to the Kosciusko County area? We invite you to learn more about KEDCO’s Talent Initiative. Want the scoop on events and happenings? Subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us on social media: Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram.

Abby McLaren – Craft brews, barbecue, and the Hoosier roots of Ledgeview Brewing Co.

When Abby and her husband Craig heard the perfect spot for brewing and BBQ was available near Abby's hometown, the McLaren Family journeyed from the east coast back to the Hoosier State, and took the plunge to start Ledgeview Brewing Co.

Episode Show Notes

• [1:50] Meet Abby McLaren, owner of Ledgeview Brewing Company
• [3:20] Native Hoosier, to east coast…and back to Indiana
• [10:30] Ledgeview’s “secret sauce” with their barbecue style
• [14:30] Why here in Kosciusko, Indiana?
• [15:50] The brewing process
• [17:35] What brought their family back home to the Hoosier State
• [24:30] Abby recommends checking out Light Rail & Kelainey’s and other happenings at The Village at Winona
• [27:35] Drum roll…the go-to menu item at Ledgeview
• [30:00] Beer. The innerworkings of the brewery
• [33:55] Jobs with Ledgeview and the restaurant industry
• [39:50] What does “Clearly Kosciusko” mean to Abby?
• [41:00] Information about Ledgeview’s hours and catering options

Are you new to the community or considering moving to the Kosciusko County area? KEDCO is here to welcome you! Click here to learn about KEDCO’s Talent Initiative. Want the scoop on events and happenings? Subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us on social media: Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram.

Cori Humes – The inside scoop from a local leader who specializes in what makes K-County special

We connect with Kosciusko County Convention & Visitor's Bureau (KCCVB) Executive Director, Cori Humes. With an overflowing passion and energy for Kosciusko County, Cori shares the inside scoop on what the local visitor's center does to support visitors and residents, and why Kosciusko County is the place to be. P.S. we think you'll love Cori's energy as much as we do!

Show Notes

• [2:02] Meet Cori Humes, executive director of the Kosciusko County Convention & Visitor’s Bureau (KCCVB)
• [2:50] Why does Cori choose this community?
• [6:40] The vision and what’s ahead for KCCVB
• [10:30] How visitors and residents can get engaged with “Engage Passports”
• [13:20] Why choose to “do life” here in Kosciusko County?
• [18:10] How do visitor bureaus work together?
• [20:30] Must-check-out hidden gems in K-County
• [27:20] Of all places, what keeps Cori here?
• [32:30] What does Clearly Kosciusko mean to Cori?
• [34:20] How to utilize the visitor’s bureau

Bobby Cox – The IHSAA, Hoosier sports and the many things to explore in northern Indiana

We chat all things Hoosier sports with Bobby Cox, Commissioner Emeritus of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), and why he calls Kosciusko County one of his homes. 

 

Episode Show Notes

• [2:25] Meet Bobby Cox, Commissioner Emeritus of the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA)
• [3:30] Bobby’s journey with the IHSAA
• [5:10] How high school sports have changed in Indiana
• [9:00] Are there upsides and downsides to specializing in a sport?
• [13:20] Why Bobby calls Kosciusko County one of his homes
• [17:40] How the pandemic affected Bobby’s retirement
• [26:20] Sports are critical for building these skills
• [30:45] What makes Kosciusko County a premier place for second-home-living?
• [36:30] What does Clearly Kosciusko mean to Bobby?

Jack Patton – How a local entrepreneur is helping companies build a healthy & productive workplace

In Episode 43, local entrepreneur, Jack Patton shares how he's helping companies build conscious and inclusive teams with implicit bias training tools, to create healthier and more productive work environments. 

 

Episode Show Notes

• [1:25] Meet Jack Patton, CEO and founder of STRE.ME
• [2:00] What is STRE.ME?
• [11:35] How STRE.ME is helping companies build conscious and inclusive teams
• [15:45] What does progress look like?
• [19:40] STRE.ME training programs
• [24:00] 5 generations of family on Webster Lake
• [26:00] History of the lake and riding The Dixie
• [28:00] New spot on Barbee chain of lakes Lakelife Bar & Grill
• [29:30] Life from Jack’s view
• [31:40] Clearly Kosciusko – A “happy place”
• [33:20] Connect with STRE.ME

Nathan Callithen – From Pennsylvania to Indiana, and finding a new home in the Orthopedic Capital of the World®

Nathan Callithen is one of our Kosciusko County's much-loved transplants, journeying from Pennsylvania to Indiana to be a part of the Orthopedic Capital of the World®. 

Show Notes

• [1:20] Meet Nathan Callithen, a development engineer at Zimmer Biomet
• [2:30] How Nathan landed in Kosciusko County 
• [5:00] Getting plugged into the community
• [6:35] Best spots to grab food in K-County
• [7:30] Finding your way as a young professional
• [10:40] Stellar local amenities and opportunities
• [20:45] Go-to things to do
• [23:00] Nathan’s candid pitch to young professionals
• [25:45] Working for a global-leading company
• [30:55] What "Clearly Kosciusko" means to Nathan
• [32:15] Join the Young Professional network!